John Nwosu, candidate of Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) says he will end insecurity and review the tax on artisans and small businesses in Anambra if elected governor.

Mr Nwosu said this during the campaign kickoff and unveiling of ADC coalition candidates for Aug. 16 by-election and Nov. 8 governorship election in Onitsha on Friday.

Justina Azuka, widow of the late Justice Azuka, representing Onitsha 1 State Constituency who was kidnapped and later found dead, is seeking to succeed her husband while Chidi Amamgbo is contesting for Anambra South Senatorial District.

Mr Nwosu said incumbent, Chukwuma Soludo, had failed in the area of security, development and respect for the rule of law, respect for traditional institutions and should not be reelected.

The candidate, who received the party flag in company of his running mate, Ndubuisi Nwobu, said Anambra was broken, needed urgent repair, adding that he was presenting himself as a credible alternative.

“Governance is not rocket science, it is also not to try your luck or making bogus promises, if Soludo did not succeed in the first four years, he won’t succeed in another four years.

“We promise four years of seamless, transformative and adaptive governance along these lines,” he said.

The information and technology expert enunciated his seven-pillar policy thrust which included security, health, education, economy, enterprise, market, and social welfare (SHEEEMS).

He said he would deploy hi-tech security infrastructure including fingerprint and AI-powered facial recognition cameras, well trained and motivated community based personnel to end insecurity.

He said his administration would introduce e-government to fight corruption, improve transparency, and enhance efficiency such that people could access and track government services from their phones.

“It will be a government that works at the speed of technology, not the speed of paperwork.

“Within six months, we will restore peace across our communities, safety will return to our streets; traditional marriage ceremonies and festivals will return to our villages.

“The era of exploitation is over, I will abolish enforcement with pestles ‘Aka-Odo’ and review the tax system.

“We will restructure the tax system to be fair, growth-friendly, and humane; you will no longer pay to suffer.

“From my first day in office, we will cut tax tariffs and charges payable by shuttle bus and keke drivers, barrow pushers and artisans by 30 per cent.

“Our people are underserved and overtaxed, this government deployed brutality to collect revenue, and many have been maimed and some have died in the hands of these agents,” he said.

Handing over the party flag to the candidates, Ralph Nwosu, immediate past national chairman of ADC, said the coalition was set to change the leadership narrative of Anambra.

Mr Nwosu said the by-election elections would be the first victory for the ADC coalition and that with wide membership from Labour Party, Peoples Democratic Party and others, Mr Nwosu would be next Anambra governor.

He urged party faithful to go to their polling units, wards and local government and for the victory of ADC coalition and its candidates.

(NAN)